Friend, Natasha. Where You'll Find MeMarch 8th 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC from Netgalley.com
Anna does not want to be living with her newly remarried father, his 24-year-old wife, and their baby, Jane. She doesn't have a choice, though, because her guidance counselor mother has tried to commit suicide. Not only that, but Anna's best friend has become too cool for her, and in a very realistic scene, tells Anna that she will support her and be there for her... but they can never be seen together talking in public. Ouch! Anna is understandably both worried about and irritated by her mother, but she has spent a lot of time being the caretaker in the relationship, so she is also a little relieved. Navigating her way though a new home life, new friends at school, and is difficult, but Anna has supportive adults who help her come to terms with her mother's diagnosis of Bipolar 2 disorder.
Strengths: My daughter is a HUGE Friend fan, so I read this even though it looked depressing. Anna's voice is very authentic, the situations are realistic, and the friend and school drama was spot on. Debating. Like the green cover much better than the photo one.
Weaknesses: One super icky scene where Anna discusses the odd noises she hears at night that are NOT her baby sister. Not awful, but completely unnecessary. Also, suicide seems to be the cause du jour these days, and I personally think we've have had all the books on it that ever need to be published. Stop already.
What I really think: Might buy; won't necessarily recommend.
I could use this for the 7th grader who came in the other day and wanted to know if we had all the suicide books in one section....
ReplyDeleteMmm. Don't know about this one. I'll give it a try though I'm trying to read more upbeat books this spring and summer.
ReplyDeleteStop already--funny. I hope middle grade authors don't all decide their books have to be dark like YA books.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting. I might give it a try. Thanks for the post.
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